TEHRAN, July 11, YJC - Iran's Major General Qassem Soleimani has hailed Iraq’s defeating of Daesh in Mosul as a major victory in the battle against terrorism.

TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -The commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) made the remark during a ceremony on Monday. He went on to note that Daesh is one of the most dangerous entities which the world has ever faced.

“The dark and evil phenomenon called Daesh has caused the world of Islam great damages,” he added.

Soleimani further hailed the volunteer fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, for their hard work towards expelling the Daesh from Mosul.

Soleimani was speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the IRGC’s fallen General Sha'aban Nasiri, who was killed around forty days ago in an advisory operation in western Mosul.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani have also sent congratulatory messages to the Iraqi government, armed forces and nation over their victory.

Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally declared victory of the country’s forces over the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group one day after the country’s military and Popular Mobilization Forces took full control of the northern city.

Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters from the PMU have made sweeping gains against Daesh since launching the Mosul operation on October 17, 2016.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.

An estimated 862,000 people have been displaced from Mosul ever since the battle to retake the city began eight months ago. A total of 195,000 civilians have also returned, mainly to the liberated areas of eastern Mosul.